One year ago, Vladimir Putin launched an illegal occupation of a sovereign nation, bringing misery and wreaking havoc on the lives of millions of people across Europe and the world.

However, he severely underestimated the resolve of the Ukrainian people and was met with a fierce defiance.

While I want nothing more than to see a Ukrainian victory, we also must be careful not to repeat the mistakes of our mission in Afghanistan that resulted in billions of dollars of equipment falling into the hands of the Taliban.  The lack of strategy in withdrawing from Kabul underscored an important lesson: throwing money at a problem does not solve it.

When I - a Member of Congress who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee - asked for a specific plan for the conflict in Ukraine, no one could answer me.  There needs to be a serious discussion about our involvement and efforts to counter Purim’s aggression.  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Ukraine is no Afghanistan, but as a veteran who left two legs on the battlefield, I cannot watch our nation make the same mistake in a consequential conflict against a brutal dictator hellbent on undermining democracies all across the world.

Now, a year into the fight, Ukrainians continue to hold the line with resilience and defend their families and communities from Putin.  They continue to inspire the world with their fight for freedom and democracy.

I’m inspired by the Ukrainian people, and look forward to being able to celebrate their victory.